Thirty Days of Thankfulness: Day 7

I am thankful that I have kids that are willing to do chores and do them happily....

Thirty Days of Thankfulness: Day 6

Election Day 2012 -- I am thankful for many MANY things today. 

1.  I am thankful that I have the right to vote.   This is our one civic duty that makes us a democracy! People in some other countries would die for this right. People in our country HAVE died so we (especially women and minorities) could have this right.

2.  Living in a swing state, I am thankful that today will mark the end of all the relentless, never-ending political phone calls.  I will be thankful for peace in my own house....

Let's hope I will still be thankful tonight after all is said and done :)

Thirty Days of Thankfulness: Day Five

I am thankful that I see this out my back window most every morning.  It is a great way to wake up....

Thirty Days of Thankfulness: Day 4

My husband is pretty darn sexy.

There, I said it.  

And he's probably going to make me change this blog post (if he sees it ). 

But seriously, besides his hobbies of hockey, rock climbing, running and Tae Kwon Do, he is SUPER smart (even if he does like MICRObiology instead of MACRObiology), he is a great father to our two little boys, and he is an A-Mazing husband (most of the time, LOL).  

I could go on and on about how wonderful this man is....but then you all would get jealous and try to steal him from me (not gonna happen, my friends...he's ALL MINE).

So today, I am thankful for MY ROCKSTAR HUSBAND.

And isn't this just the sweetest picture?  Little Max is finally old enough to start Tae Kwon Do, so the two of them have been enjoying some father-son time together.  Look at my little peanut!  I can't believe in two weeks he is going to be 5!!  Holy cow!!

Thirty Days of Thankfulness: Day 3

Today I did one of the stupidest things of my adult life.  It wasn't stupid in that it was harmful to anyone (except perhaps myself).  It was just stupid because I am so darn stubborn.  

Max and I were both signed up to do the Tyranena Beer run .  Max was signed up to do the half marathon, and I was signed up to do the 1/6 (4.37 mile) run.  When the kids came down with the plague stomach flu, we decided that one of us needed to stay home with them so that we didn't get our sitter sick.  Since my running partner, Laura, was signed up to do the run with us, I decided that Max should stay home and I would go.  

Saturday morning I woke up not feeling 100%.  After a few bouts in the bathroom, I figured I was 'cleaned out' and felt good enough to run.  And, truth be told, I did feel *mostly* fine until after the run.

We didn't end up running the whole thing.  We walked for maybe 0.25-0.5 miles of the total.  That's ok -- we both know we can run the distance easily under *normal* circumstances.  Laura said her hip hurt...but I don't know if she just said that to make me feel better.  ;)  All I know is the course was hilly.  And it smelled like COW MANURE the.entire.time.  Not good when you have a sensitive tummy in the first place, eh?

I ended up vomiting on the car ride home (thank goodness we had plastic bags).  I then took a nap and sat on the couch the rest of the day (to big Max's dismay).  I even went to bed at 7 pm right after we put the boys to bed.  Luckily, I woke up on Sunday feeling MUCH better (i.e. I could actually keep food down!)

So, where is the thankfulness in all of this?

Right HERE:

Today I am thankful for my running partner, Laura.  Without her I would not push myself as hard or be as motivated to continue running.  She really has helped me reach all my running goals this year -- a 10K, and even one run further than that!  Our tentative goal for next year is to do a half marathon -- that's 13.1 miles, folks!  CRAZY!!!

Thirty Days of Thankfulness: Day 2

The plague stomach flu has stuck our house, so I have been out of commission for the last two days.  Well, mostly out of commission, but enough that I wasn't able to update the blog.

While there is not a lot to be thankful for during times of sickness, I am always a little thankful that I can sneak in a few extra snuggles when my kids are sick....

But today's thankfulness is non-flu related.  I have a video clip to share of little Max from his Auntie Amanda's wedding in early October.  We still are not sure where he learned these awesome dance moves or what possessed him to find his inner Michael Jackson, but if you are in need of a smile, WATCH THIS.  It makes me laugh EVERY.TIME!

 

Thirty Days of Thankfulness....Day 1

Just what I need to commit to, right?  Another "xx days" of something...especially when I am so far behind on my photo a day project.  I WILL get caught up -- and I promise that will be something to be thankful for -- FOR SURE!

But this is a little something different.  With Thanksgiving at the end of the month, November is a month to be

THANKFUL.  

So with that in mind, I am going to try to post once a day for the entire month with either  a picture, a quote, or even just a little bit of writing to say what I am thankful for.  If nothing else, it will keep me mindful on how many WONDERFUL things I have in my life -- there are a lot...but sometimes I get caught up on the stuff I DON'T have in my life and that clouds up all the things I should be thankful for.

Time to refocus.

So today, on Day 1 of the Thankfulness Project, am I thankful for:

...two wonderful boys who delight in the joys of the holidays and get so genuinely excited over the smallest things.  For little Max and his unwavering desire to be 'Mr. Incredible' this year -- he wore his costume the ENTIRE DAY at school (how he went to the bathroom is beyond me); he also INSISTED that I dress up -- so I did to his delight.  For Sam and his indecisiveness on what to be -- first a pirate, then a puppy, then a puppy-pirate, and finally a lion (he's ROARING in this photo).  Add to that a plastic pumpkin basket (thank you Target) and you've got yourself some trick o treaters!  Thank goodness for our Step 2 wagon also -- this thing is always a godsend when we go trick or treating (or the zoo, or the park, etc.)  

Little Max gave T-O-T'ing his all and hit EVERY house in a 0.5 mile loop.  His energy was unwavering as he ran from house to house.  His little cheeks were flushed red and his eyes were sparkling with excitement after EVERY house.  When Sam and Nina got too tired to continue and sat in the wagon resting, he started asking for extras to give to his 'friend and wittle bwother".  After every house he would run back to me so excited saying "Look, Mom!  Look what I GOT!"  And every time I would answer with feigned excitement "What did you get!?  Show me!" Because as annoying as it got after the bazillionth time, I didn't want to do anything to rain on his happy parade.  He was IN HIS ELEMENT.

Love these boys.  So blessed to have them in my life.  I am thankful for the smiles they bring me (even amidst the grimacing)...they make my days!

Pumpkin Farm Fun

We made our annual trip to the Pumpkin Farm...again supporting our local Basse's Taste of Country.  We really like it there -- caramel apples, tons of pumpkins, hay rides, corn maze, petting zoo, playground, corn house, corn teepee...you name it! 

With two VERY active and busy boys....it was hard snap pictures of them in action. And, because we like to get in on the fun WITH them...sometimes it is hard to remember to take the pictures in the first place, honestly...I'd so much rather be IN the fun making the memories sometimes....

Of course, I managed to snap a few....

 

And then, because I was feeling all nostalgic,  I took a walk down memory lane...

 

Our first year at Basse's in 2008 -- Max was just under one year old...

 

 

 

We must've been too busy in 2009 to go to Basse's because our next set of pictures shows up in 2010.  Max is almost 3 and Sam is 6 months.

 

And then, 2011 -- Max is almost 4 and Sam is one and a half...

And now - 2012 - an almost FIVE year old and a two and a half year old.  Crazy how fast they grow and how fast time goes by!

Man, do I love my two little pumpkins!!!

Shutterfly Winner

Congrats to....

which would be the following comment:
 

stacey rebholz said...

sam has me thinking about it already!

October 11, 2012 2:49 AM

Stacy -- with your new baby boy...who is adorably named SAM I hope you can put this to good use! 

Plus, commenting at 2:49 AM ought to give you some advantage, LOL.

I'll contact you with the details to claim your prize.

 

Thanks everyone else for commenting/playing.  Check out Shutterfly's GREAT designs this year and don't forget

to send me a card too!  :)

 

Christmas Cards in October? ***AND A GIVEAWAY***

Have you started thinking about your Christmas cards yet?

WAIT, what?

You're too busy carving your pumpkins and raking leaves and you think it's too early to be thinking about that?  

Well,

IT'S NOT!!

I'm thinking about mine already....

• I already have a photo session booked with my favorite awesome local photographer, Shannon Wucherer Photography.
• I've also got an entire pinboard of inspiration for outfits for the photo shoot this year -- I'm thinking navy and yellow for colors this year, but I'm still figuring it out.

For me:

I mean CUTE, right??

• And Shutterfly has their Holiday Cards up already!!  

WHAT???  NO WAY!  

This means that I can scour their website for inspiration BEFORE my photoshoot -- and color coordinate my outfits WITH my card choice!  SO PERFECT for my Type A personality, don'tcha think!?!  :)

Look at some of the great layouts they have!! I'm partial to the multiple photo layout ones, but there are TONS of other ideas on their website...CHECK IT OUT!!

 

Shutterfly makes it easy for you to get quality holiday cards at a decent price.  They also offer TONS of promotions so you won't have to spend all your gift money getting cards sent out.  Check out their Special Offers for more details.  

But now the part that you've been really waiting for, right?  

Shutterfly has given me an awesome giveaway that I get to treat one lucky reader with.  Entering is simple:

Just leave me a comment below telling me if you've already started thinking about your Holiday cards and what you've done.

One lucky reader will take home a promo code for 

$50 off their total order 

(does not include shipping & cannot be combined with any other promos).  

Seriously.  How cool is that???

Comments will be closed on October 19th at midnight, so be sure to enter before then!  I'll use random number generator to pick one lucky winner and will announce the winner on October 20th.  Good luck!!!

***this is a sponsored post by Shutterfly and I am receiving compensation for it.  ***